Shutdown affects life in Jammu region

Jammu: A shutdown on Friday to protest alleged bovine slaughter affected life in three towns in Jammu region, with protestors attempting to block the busy Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

Shops, educational institutions, public transport and other businesses remained closed in Udhampur, Reasi and Chenani towns of Jammu region, following the protest shutdown called by Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) against alleged bovine slaughter.

Some JKNPP activists tried to block the Jammu-Srinagar national highway at Udhampur on Friday, but police restored traffic, a senior police officer said.

Police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed in Udhampur, Chenani and Reasi towns to maintain law and order, and prevent anti-social elements from stoking communal passions.

Tension gripped the entire Udhampur and Reasi districts on Thursday evening when rumours spread that bovines were slaughtered in Chenani town.

Authorities immediately reached the spot where three carcasses were found.

Shahid Choudhary, district magistrate (DM) Udhampur, confirmed to reporters that the animals did not have any cuts inflicted by a sharp-edged weapon.

Choudhary also said veterinary surgeons had carried out post-mortem examination of the carcasses and the preliminary report said the animals died due to poisoning.

The official said some dead crows were found near the carcasses which indicate the animals had died due to poisoning.

Srinagar: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant Abu Qasim, the mastermind of the Udhampur attack on a BSF bus on August 5, has been killed in a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Thursday.
“Abu Qasim, the operational commander of the LeT, was killed during the night in an ambush by the security forces in Khandaypora village of Kulgam district,” a police officer told IANS here.

Security forces laid an ambush in the area following specific information about the movements of the LeT commander.

“Abu Qasim fell into the ambush along with an accomplice. Abu Qasim was killed in the first contact (exchange of gunfire),” the officer said, adding the killing was a major success for the security forces.

Sporadic exchange of fire is under way in the area.

The officer said the LeT commander was active in the state for the last six years and was the most wanted militant commander in Jammu and Kashmir.

A resident of Pakistan, Abu Qasim was the mastermind of the Udhampur attack in which two BSF personnel were killed and 11 others injured, he said.

One terrorist was killed on the spot while another, Naveed was apprehended by villagers and handed over to police after he escaped from the site where the two LeT terrorists had carried out the attack.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating the case. Naveed and two local accomplices are all currently in a jail in Jammu.